Method and apparatus for securing a remote device

Abstract

A system and method for security of Internet of things (IoT) devices are discussed. A user of a mobile device, such as a customer of a wireless communication network, may remotely lock an IoT device while concomitantly assigning an ad hoc password to the IoT device that can be subsequently used to unlock the device. Alternatively, an IoT device may self-lock and produce a password in response to detecting its motion. The produced password may be provided to the user of a mobile device and used later to unlock the IoT device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A remote server configured to communicate with a client device and an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the remote server comprising:
 a processor; 
 a non-transitory storage medium; and 
 instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
 receive from the IoT device a message that includes an indication that
 the IoT device is moving or has been moved from an original location, and 
 the IoT device has self-locked in response to the moving, and 
 
 receive from the IoT device a password self-assigned by the IoT device in response to the self-locking. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The remote server of  claim 1 , wherein the password self-assigned by the IoT device is an ad hoc password created when the IoT device self-locks in response to the moving. 
     
     
       3. The remote server of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to use the password self-assigned by the IoT device to:
 remotely change a profile on an eSIM card embedded in the IoT device by transmitting to the IoT device a command to modify functionality of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       4. The remote server of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to receive a geolocation from the IoT device in response to the transmitting of the command to modify the functionality of the IoT device. 
     
     
       5. The remote server of  claim 3 , wherein modifying the functionality of the IoT device comprises at least partially removing the self-locking by adding to the functionality of the IoT device. 
     
     
       6. The remote server of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 in response to receiving the message, transmit a notifying message to the client device that indicates motion of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       7. The remote server of  claim 1 , wherein the remote server comprises a portion of a wireless communication network. 
     
     
       8. The remote server of  claim 1 , wherein the remote server comprises a portion of the Internet. 
     
     
       9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a network element, cause a flow controller of the network element to perform operations comprising:
 receiving from an IoT device a message that includes an indication that
 the IoT device is moving or has been moved from an original location, and the IoT device has self-locked in response to the moving, and 
 
 receiving from the IoT device a password self-assigned by the IoT device in response to the self-locking. 
 
     
     
       10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 9 , wherein the password self-assigned by the IoT device is an ad hoc password created when the IoT device self-locks in response to the moving. 
     
     
       11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor of the network element to cause the flow controller of the network element to perform a further operation comprising:
 using the password self-assigned by the IoT device to remotely change a profile on an eSIM card embedded in the IoT device by transmitting to the IoT device a command to modify functionality of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor of the network element to cause the flow controller of the network element to perform a further operation comprising:
 receiving a geolocation from the IoT device in response to the transmitting of the command to modify the functionality of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the functionality of the IoT device comprises at least partially removing the self-locking by adding to the functionality of the IoT device. 
     
     
       14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor of the network element to cause the flow controller of the network element to perform a further operation comprising:
 in response to receiving the message, transmitting a notifying message to a client device that indicates motion of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       15. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving from an IoT device a message that includes an indication that
 the IoT device is moving or has been moved from an original location, and the IoT device has self-locked in response to the moving, and 
 
 receiving from the IoT device a password self-assigned by the IoT device in response to the self-locking. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the password self-assigned by the IoT device is an ad hoc password created when the IoT device self-locks in response to the moving. 
     
     
       17. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 using the password self-assigned by the IoT device to remotely change a profile on an eSIM card embedded in the IoT device by transmitting to the IoT device a command to modify functionality of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving a geolocation from the IoT device in response to the transmitting of the command to modify the functionality of the IoT device. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein modifying the functionality of the IoT device comprises at least partially removing the self-locking by adding to the functionality of the IoT device. 
     
     
       20. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving the message, transmitting a notifying message to a client device that indicates motion of the IoT device.